Chapter 167 Alchemy King [4]

Katrina watched Nathan with troubled eyes.

"Should I go to bring the ingredients? I don't think he'll... wake up soon."

She did not know how long Nathan was going to take, but it would take a few hours at least.

Grumble-

Katrina's face became beet red.

She looked at the hamburgers resting on the table and audibly gulped.

Alternating her eyes between Nathan and the food, she couldn't decide what to do. The last time she lost consciousness from hunger, she would've died if not for the annual inspection drones that found her knocked out cold.

Back then, the bullying had just begun, and she was unable to cope with it. Thus, she hid inside the building, staying holed up for days.

Grumble-

Breaking her chain of thoughts was the rumbling of her stomach.

"...I'll eat."

She took a hamburger and stared at it.

Shaking her head, she opened her mouth and took a small bite.

The hamburger tasted like meat seasoned with salt and pepper, which made Katrina smile as she thought back to the days when she wasn't bullied and could go outside freely.

The flavor was unique, unlike what she tasted at the canteen.

Unconsciously her pace increased, from nibbling down like a hamster to wolfing down the burger.

By the time everything ended, she looked a bit happy and sad.

How long it had been since she was full?

They combined the canteen for first years from every department. She couldn't go there and not expect to become the center of attention.

She felt like a clown. An animal in a zoo on exhibition.

Unable to handle the gazes, she went to the canteen late and, due to time constraints, couldn't bring much food. Even when she did, she stored them in case she couldn't leave the building and had no food to eat.

She looked at her empty hands with a saddened gaze.

Minutes turned into hours, hours turned a day, and finally, Nathan woke up.

"Uhwaaah..."

He yawned without restraints and massaged his shoulders.

Standing up, he looked at the missing food and turned to Katrina with a sly smile.

"Does it mean I'll be your apprentice?"

"W-what!?"

Having woken up a few minutes ago, Katrina wasn't fully awake and was looking around in a daze.

She jumped back in fright when she suddenly heard someone else in the room, but relaxed again when she saw that it was only Nathan.

"It's just you.."

"You aren't stammering anymore?"

Katrina's face hardened at the realization.

Before she could say something, Nathan left the room with swift steps.

He navigated through the worn building, looking for a bathroom to freshen up.

"Where's the bathroom?"

"It's next to the third turn from the right corridor!"

Katrina replied reflexively and...

"Hey, wait!"

..ran after him!

She thought he was leaving, that was why she didn't follow him, but he was looking for the bathroom!

Bang- Bang-

"This isn't your house!"

She was late. Nathan was already inside.

"What should I call you, Katrina? Kat? Or Teach? How should I call you, mentor?"

Nathan turned the shower faucet on while speaking to Katrina outside.

"I'm calling professors if you don't get out now!"

She tried to shout in case Nathan couldn't hear her under the water noise.

Bang- Bang-

"Hey!"

Bang- Bang-

"What do you want!?"

"Katrina..."

"H-huh?"

"Kat or Teach? What should I call you?"

She momentarily stopped, however, the next second she banged even harder.

Bang- Bang-

Katrina wasn't going to back down!

She had it enough. Why did everyone treat her li-

"I have more food~ Even tastier than yesterday~"

"The hot water might take a while before coming in. The geezer isn't broken. Don't bathe with cold water."

She returned after advising him.

What?

The food didn't do anything wrong. She didn't see why she should refuse it.

Besides, it was common sense to show courtesy to guests.

Her mouth watered as she recalled the taste of what she ate yesterday. Is something even better? She had to try i-Ahem, she was only showing generosity as a senior alchemist by letting Nathan stay for a bit.

She didn't agree because of the food, definitely not.

Nathan took his sweet time to come outside.

Katrina, who had been waiting in the main room, glared at him.

"What were you doing there for an hour? Even girls don't take that long."

Truly, anger is the best medicine. She managed to speak two sentences without stuttering.

"You're not you when you are hungry."

Nathan brought out pancakes and donuts and placed them on the table.

The amount was more than yesterday and so was the aroma.

"T-thank you.."

Katrina's feet took to her table, and she picked the plate filled with fluffy pancakes topped with fruit and chocolate syrup. Her eyes sparkled at the sight.

"Yummy~!"

Her fingers moved fast as if they were possessed.

She cut a piece of pancake and bit into it.

It melted instantly in her mouth.

Her cheeks puffed, and she sighed contentedly.

"Mmm.."

She continued eating until the plate was half empty.

"Uuuh...

Taking a breath, she turned around with her puffed cheeks.

"U-uhhh!"

She couldn't shout from all the food stuffed into her mouth. However, her wronged expression when she saw Nathan mediating was for all to see.

Grumbling, she looked at him once, then at the plate in her hand, and started stuffing with more fervor than before.

She licked the plate clean.

The same thing happened the next day.

Nathan brought out a different batch of food. In the time she could finish everything he freshened up and returned to meditating.

"18 days.."

He left a note for mentor-trainee guardianship and focused on creating more constellations.

Eight swords and 1 God-Killing spear. These were the constellations inside his soul at the moment.

He decided to create dagger and other smaller weapons constellations while traversing through the dungeon. He was focusing on bigger weapons as they could act as shield, and more time and concentration was needed to create their constellations.

While Katrina was busy wolfing down the food, he checked his device.

The message from Tristan said that everything was going smoothly, and he was looking for a teleportation spell. Nathan deleted the messages and their logs after going through them.

Another message, or rather messages, was from Henry, the student council prospect that stayed behind to climb the dungeon with Nathan.

He was sending messages to Nathan every few hours, however as he didn't know Nathan's location, he had yet to come to find Nathan himself.

Nathan shook his head. He had already told him via messaging that he needed at least a week worth's of preparation time before leaving.

Another day passed.

This time, Katrina only glared at him and didn't try to stop him.

She was even waiting for him to freshen up and give her food.

Nathan smiled when he saw her sitting obediently, waiting for him.

However, he didn't bring out anything and sat across from Katrina.

His face had a smile the entire time.

Katrina didn't understand what he was trying to do. Where was her food?

"I'm leaving today."

Her body jolted.

"F-food?"

"Before that... can you tell me if you are signed the mentor-trainee guardianship?"

It was then Katrina came to her senses!

Her eyes widened, and she pointed her fingers at Nathan.

"W-what? G-give me mor-I mean, what did you put in that food? There was something wrong with it. I was b... bewitched!"

Nathan's lips twitched.

He was happy that someone was praising his cooking, but this was too much. For the first time, he didn't cheat, yet he was being blamed for cheating.

"I see... I'll be leaving. Please decide by then. Of course, we'll have a party if you take me under you!"

He didn't leave her any time to retort and left.

Katrina, who was eagerly waiting for food, felt her world shatter.

"Give me food before you leave!"